Angelonia plant named ‘DANALON5’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Angelonia  cultivar named ‘DANALON5’ is disclosed, characterized by having a compact plant habit, exceptionally free branching and small lavender flowers. The new variety is an  Angelonia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Angelonia angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘DANALON5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Angelonia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new varieties of Angelonia for commercial introduction. The crossing resulting in the new cultivar was made in January 2007. The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Angelonia angustifolia ‘AL-393.’ The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Angelonia angustifolia ‘AL-42.’ The new variety was discovered in May 2007 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing, in a commercial greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in May 2007. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANALON5’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANALON5.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANALON5’ as a new and distinct Angelonia cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, mounded plant habit.     -   2. Small lavender flowers.     -   3. Exceptionally free branching.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, ‘AL-393’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ have a more compact plant habit, more freely branching and have a different color flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, ‘AL-42’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ have a different plant habit, more freely branching and have a different color flower. Additionally, flowers produced by the new variety are smaller than those of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘DANGELONI3,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,456. Plants of ‘DANALON5’ are similar to plants of ‘DANGELONI3’, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ have a different color flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘DANGELONI4,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,451. Plants of ‘DANALON5’ are similar to plants of ‘DANGELONI4’, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANALON5’ have more free branching habit and a different color flower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical close view flower of ‘DANALON5.’

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANALON5’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting, with 1 rooted cutting planted in the pot shown.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANALON5’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from day temperatures of 22° C. to 32° C., and night temperatures of 18° C. to 23° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. No growth regulators or artificial light treatments were given. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification. Angelonia angustifolia cultivar     ‘DANALON5.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to Initiate Roots: About 10 to 14 days at approximately 25° C. -   Root Description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth Habit: Mounded -   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. -   Height:     -   -   To top of foliage.—Approximately 20 cm.         -   To top of flowers.—Approximately 25 cm. -   Plant Spread: Approximately 25 cm. -   Growth Rate: Moderate. -   Branching Characteristics: Very free branching. -   Length of Primary Lateral Branches: Averages between 15-20 cm. -   Diameter of Lateral Branches: Averages between 0.2-0.4 cm. -   Quantity of Primary Lateral Branches: 30-40. -   Characteristics of Primary Lateral Branches:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 139A.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible. -   Internodes length: 1.5-3.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 16 per branch.         -   Average Length.—Averages between 2-4 cm.         -   Average Width.—Averages between 0.8-1.4 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Scalloped.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 138B Young             foliage under side: RHS Green 138C Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Green 139A Mature foliage under side: RHS Green             138A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: RHS Green             138A Venation color under side: RHS Green 138B.         -   Petiole.—No Petiole

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: April-November. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 14-20 days -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Raceme inflorescence and     single bilabiate flower     -   -   Length of Inflorescence.—11 cm Average.         -   Width of Inflorescence.—5.2 cm Average.         -   Quantity of Flowers per Inflorescence.—An average of at 15             fully open flowers at any time, and approximate 10 unopened             buds. -   Rate of flower opening: 3 to 6 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower Longevity on Plant: Individual flowers last an average of 6     days. -   Persistent or Self-Cleaning: Persistent -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblate.         -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Violet 84A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Flower Tube Length.—Approximately 1.9. -   Petals.     -   -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.         -   Quantity.—5.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Apex.—Blunt. -   Color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 94C with             speckles in throat near Purple 79A. Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 94C.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 94C with             speckles in throat near Purple 79B. Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 94C Palate color: Near RHS Violet-Blue 94D Outer             flower tube color: Near RHS Violet-Blue 92D. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Acute.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Width.—Averages between 0.01-0.05 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue N92B. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Purple N79B.         -   Strength.—Flexible.         -   Angle.—45° C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Approximatelty 6.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Purple N78BC.         -   Strength.—Flexible.         -   Angle.—90° C. -   Fragrance: No

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Filament length.—2 mm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—1.5 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 11D. -   Pollen:     -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 11D.         -   Quantity.—Scant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Styles.—Length: 0.15 cm Color: Near RHS Purple 75D.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Conical Color: Near RHS Purple 75D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: 10 to 20 round seeds, near RHS Brown 200B color,     when mature. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal pests and disease of Angelonia have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 8 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘DANALON5’ as herein illustrated and described. 